I seem to be talking and thinking about monsters a lot these days. In part, that\u2019s because I joined Twitter. Rather, I should say I began using Twitter, since I created an account long ago, but never used it for anything other than following Duotrope posts. Now I\u2019m following N.K. Jemisin, Anne Leckie, Tor Books, Annalee Flower, Brandon Sanderson, Robert J. Crane, and a host of others. I tried to post something every day, but sheesh! Talk about a time suck\u2026<\/p>\n
My main reason for becoming more active on Twitter was to \u201cget my name out there\u201d in the writing\/publishing world. And I\u2019m sure that will happen over time. But for the moment, Twitter\u2019s most prevalent offering (mostly through Jemisin\u2019s and Leckie\u2019s tweets and retweets) is a wider awareness of awful things happening in the U.S. of A, as well as the world. I\u2019ve mentioned in recent blog posts that I often tune out news because it\u2019s so damn depressing, and also that ignoring the monster doesn\u2019t make it go away.<\/p>\n
So I\u2019ve been looking askance at the beast, reading reports about: the Surabaya attacks where a single family\u2014including young children\u2014carried out suicide bombings at three different churches; the mass, random stabbings in Paris on May 12; the Burundi killings where 26 people were killed and 7 wounded. Even where countries with long-standing hostilities strive toward peaceful negotiations aimed at ending their confrontation, like Pakistan and India, it takes only a handful of dedicated, opposed individuals to disrupt the whole process.<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t just Twitter that\u2019s heightened my awareness of human atrocities. In researching background for my short story \u201cUpshot\u201d (which is still awaiting Mayan translation for certain words and phrases), I learned about the Guatemalan civil war in the mid- to late-20th<\/sup> Century, how soldiers and guerillas leveled whole villages, packed the people (including women and children) into churches and then burned the building to the ground, raped and pillaged and plundered with zero accountability. Research for another story I\u2019ve mentioned here before (\u201cThat Shining Moment,\u201d which is still in the creation process) showed me how many countries still use a firing squad as a means of capital punishment and how frequently, even in countries where the death penalty has been \u201cabolished,\u201d firing squads still eliminate enemies of the state in executions that take place \u201coff the books.\u201d When I first began researching for \u201cShining Moment,\u201d my readings sickened me, gave me nightmares, especially what I learned about the Rwandan genocide (blogged about here).<\/p>\n I get that tensions can begin over understandable disagreements. It\u2019s part of human nature to differ on things. Where the arguments lose me is when the issues are allowed to grow into an integral part of the nations or cultures that spawned the conflict in the first place. Such prolonged hatred often becomes embedded in a social fabric and remains a threat to peace long after the initiating offense or disagreement has been lost to history. The problem is that if the parties want peace, someone has to be willing to make the first gesture, but we have been taught that to do this is to show weakness. For combatants in long-standing hostilities, showing weakness is tantamount to submission, an invitation for others to prey on their exposed underbellies. (Can you say \u201cNorthern Ireland\u201d?)<\/p>\n I know these conflicts are oftentimes multilayered and complex. But it seems to me that some, at least, boil down to a sentiment which dictates that the different \u201cOther\u201d\u2014whether that manifests in religion, ethnic group, nationality, political party or what have you\u2014must be eradicated. But these examples are only part of the world-wide symptom I\u2019m talking about here. More insidious tactics of people in this mindset don\u2019t involve murder. At the other end of the spectrum, people with this outlook feel compelled to discredit and minimize their \u201copponents\u201d any way they can. The recent spate in the U.S. of calling the police on black people doing normal things (like patronizing a Starbucks, or staying at an Air B&B, or power-napping in between studies in a university common room) is born of this same mentality.<\/p>\n International hostilities, as I\u2019ve explained, bewilder me. I read about them, try to understand, and eventually turn away because there is so little I can do about such a large-scale problem. My anger is reserved for persons or groups who foster hate against others simply because they are different. Any person or group of persons who carry out a suicide bombing or a terrorist shooting, anyone who would deprive another individual or group of their dignity because of their religion or sexuality or skin color, anyone who foments this sort of hatred by their words and actions, these are the people who wind up on my black list.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t care what nationality or religion or race or gender or sexual orientation a person claims. I try to accept people as human beings regardless of the packaging or point of origin. I may not be a soldier in the struggle to end international conflict; still, if my daily life placed me into a situation where an act of hostility took place right in front of me, I don\u2019t think I could remain silent. Peace-loving as I am, if I was ever to be moved to fight either literally or metaphorically, it would be to stand between a perpetrator of hate speech or actions and their intended target and say, \u201cNo. Not this time. I will speak out.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps if more people would do this simple thing, we would not be in such dire straits as a species.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I seem to be talking and thinking about monsters a lot these days. In part, that\u2019s because I joined Twitter. Rather, I should say I began using Twitter, since I created an account long ago, but never used it for anything other than following Duotrope posts. Now I\u2019m following N.K. Jemisin, Anne Leckie, Tor Books,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,18,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-ethical-issues","category-social-issues"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8n0kX-cO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":740,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/30\/in-search-of-demons\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":0},"title":"In Search of Demons","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"April 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Warning: May contain spoilers.) What do you think of when you hear the word \u201cmonster\u201d? Chances are the first thing that comes to mind are creatures like vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein\u2019s creation, ghosts, Godzilla, or some otherworldly beast. Dictionary.com gives a long list of definitions like \u201ca legendary animal combining features\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1001,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/13\/writing-skill-social-media-for-the-win\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":1},"title":"Writing Skill: Social Media for the Win","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"August 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I think I said in one of my blog posts earlier this year that I hoped to self-publish my work-in-progress by the end of 2018. Of course as we all know, plans are made to be changed, and mine was no different. Once I discovered Pitch Wars and the PW\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/HeartOnHands.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/HeartOnHands.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/HeartOnHands.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/HeartOnHands.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/HeartOnHands.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":849,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/09\/help-for-guatemala\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":2},"title":"Help for Guatemala","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"June 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"For my readers who'd like to help those affected by Fuego in Guatemala, in-country associates of a trusted friend have set up a GoFundMe page where you can donate. Financial assets are easiest, since the things their displaced compatriots need most are difficult or impossible to ship, much less deliver\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2803,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2022\/07\/10\/the-chronicles-of-self-publishing-6th-part-of-my-journey\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":3},"title":"The Chronicles of Self-Publishing: 6th Part of My Journey","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"July 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"(or How I Did It, a \".doc\"-umentary) Part 6\/? Latest update: I got word from Duncan, my cover designer, that his wife was home and on the mend. Thank goodness for that! I know he is relieved, as is she. In addition to my joy at that good news, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/downloading-ge77eeae26_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/downloading-ge77eeae26_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/downloading-ge77eeae26_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/downloading-ge77eeae26_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/downloading-ge77eeae26_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1185,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/03\/no-gain-no-shame-when-life-gets-in-the-way\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":4},"title":"No Gain, No Shame: When Life Gets in the Way","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"December 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"NaNoWriMo always surprises me. Every Fall, it hovers around the corner like one of our kittens, furry butt wiggling in preparation for The Pounce and, the minute November 1 arrives, it attacks my conscience. I always want to be a NaNoWriMo writer. I\u2019ve occasionally planned to participate. It just never\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/time-flies-2470848_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/time-flies-2470848_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/time-flies-2470848_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/time-flies-2470848_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/time-flies-2470848_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":806,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/21\/dont-fear-the-rowing-machine\/","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":5},"title":"Don\u2019t Fear the Rowing Machine","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"May 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"You\u2019ll probably think this is ridiculous, but when I first joined my gym, I was afraid of the rowing machine. It\u2019s true. I watched people using it, saw them sweat on it, and heard their puffs\/wheezes. It looked so hard, I thought I\u2019d never be able to last more than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=794"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":795,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794\/revisions\/795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}